Mobile Communication Systems for Private Networks E-Book

Srinivasan Balasubramanian

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 986

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Understand the role of network communications in the private sector with this timely guide

4G and 5G wireless communication technologies have come to dominate network communications in recent years, and their expansion is only continuing. Most existing treatments of this key subject, however, deal with large-scale public networks, not the private networks whose deployment constitutes one of the major current growth areas in wireless technology. There is an urgent need for a guide to network communication deployment specifically for private enterprises.

Mobile Communication Systems for Private Networks meets this need with a cutting-edge but accessible overview of the subject. Alerting to the specific needs of the private enterprise network and the disruption potential of cellular network operations, it surveys the early lessons of the global private network rollout for the benefit of future operations. With an eye towards future challenges and developments, this essential text is suitable for professionals in the network communications industry and its partners.

Readers will also find:

• The background required to design, deploy, and manage enterprise private networks driven by 4G and 5G technologies
• Detailed discussion of topics including fundamentals of 4G & 5G, standards bodies and their role in defining specifications for private networks, layer 3 concepts, IP connectivity, and many more
• Solutions to the urgent need for ubiquitous 5-bar connectivity both indoor and outdoor

Mobile Communication Systems for Private Networks is an ideal reference for end user devices, network operators, chip manufacturers, researchers, and all other professionals and stakeholders with roles in the information and operational technology industries.

Leseprobe

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Fundamentals of Private Cellular Enterprise Network Communications

Srinivasan Balasubramanian

Copyright © 2025 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.Published simultaneously in Canada.

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To my dear parents,

I deeply appreciate the guidance and sacrifices you have done for me, which have profoundly shaped not just who I am but also the values I hold dear. You both have etched a blueprint of moral and ethical living into my heart through the eloquence of your actions, and every decision I make carries the imprint of your wisdom. Your unwavering commitment to integrity and kindness has been, and will continue to be, a light guiding me on the path of righteousness, even in the darkest of hours. Beyond financial support, you invested in my future not just with resources but with your boundless faith in my potential. Your belief in me has propelled me to reach heights I once deemed unreachable. You never allowed me to settle for mediocrity, always urging me to push beyond my comfort zone, strive for excellence, and reach for the stars. In your eyes, I saw reflections of my untapped potential, and in your encouragement, I found the courage to chase my wildest ambitions.

With deepest gratitude, respect, and boundless love,

Srinivasan Balasubramanian

Foreword by Mehmet

Private cellular networks mark a significant milestone in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. These networks are gaining a lot of momentum, and they are expected to play an increasingly significant role in the future of enterprise wireless connectivity.

It is my great pleasure to introduce this comprehensive and insightful book authored by my esteemed colleague, Srini Balasubramanian. With decades of expertise in cellular wireless communications together with his hands‐on experience in private networks, Srini adeptly explains all the critical technical aspects with the right level of detail. This book delves into the intricacies of private networks, shedding light on their transformative potential.

Mastering private network technology requires a solid understanding of wireless communications, 3GPP standards, and enterprise networking. It is often quite challenging to gather all the relevant information from different sources. Furthermore, private network requirements are quite different than those of traditional mobile operator networks. In traditional cellular networks, a mobile operator can have radio access network (RAN) solution, core network solution, and operations support system or business support system (OSS/BSS) solutions from different vendors and integrate all the components using well‐defined standards and operate the network. However, in private network space enterprises, information technology or operational technology (IT/OT) departments typically need a turn‐key solution that integrates well with their existing local area network (LAN). Thus, integration with enterprise dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) servers, network access controls (NACs), and firewalls becomes crucial requirements for successful and scalable deployments. Also, device management in private cellular networks has quite unique requirements, including device life‐cycle management, integration with enterprise virtual local area networks (VLANs), and the creation of network slices.

In his book, Srini does an excellent job in guiding the reader through necessary pieces as he meticulously explores the various facets of private networks from foundational principles to practical applications. I am confident that readers will find this book to be an invaluable resource, one that not only educates but also inspires.

Mehmet Yavuz, CTO, Celona Inc.

Foreword by Masoud

The recent movements toward enhancing digital life have motivated significant change in the direction of telecommunications industry so that the development of digital enterprise networks and private wireless networks has become the cornerstone of advanced wireless technologies such as 5G new radio (NR) and 6G. As a result, technology ecosystems such as third‐generation partnership projects (3GPP) have initiated in‐depth studies to promote private wireless networks. Advanced private wireless and enterprise use cases require wireless connectivity to deliver high throughput, high bandwidth, broad coverage, low latency, very high reliability, and enhanced security, which are not necessarily delivered by existing Wi‐Fi networks. The 3GPP community has offered solutions to support these use cases as part of its 5G NR and 5G advanced solutions such as massive Internet of Things (IoT) communications, cloud storage and computing, and AI. Moreover, private 5G wireless networks may require custom design to meet the desired performance levels and service demands. However, the basis of any wireless system is the spectrum, and therefore, the policymakers have promoted studies to secure proper spectrum ranges for the digital enterprise development. The Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) has created a dynamic spectrum‐sharing platform that enhances the proliferation of private and enterprise wireless systems by relaxing the significant financial burden of securing exclusive license spectrum.

During the development of CBRS network features for private and enterprise wireless use cases, and as the chair of OnGo Alliance (previously known as CBRS Alliance) Network Services Task Group (NSTG), I had the privilege of working with Srinivasan Balasubramanian, who was instrumental in the development of nonpublic networks (NPN) in the spectrum‐sharing platform. Before joining the CBRS development effort, he had at least two decades of theoretical expertise as well as hands‐on experience in cellular and private wireless communications, with a deep knowledge of 3GPP long‐term evolution (LTE) and 5G NR advanced technologies. These experiences and knowledge have enabled him to write a comprehensive and insightful book in the field of private and enterprise wireless networks. Titled Mobile Communication Systems for Private Networks, this book serves as a master guide, offering all the essential technical details and design criteria required for a deep understanding of the design and development of private wireless networks. Therefore, this book can be considered as a comprehensive source for those who want to develop and design enterprise wireless networks.

The topics covered in the book extend from use case definition, spectrum management, and security frameworks to network architecture for both mobile network operator (MNO)‐integrated and standalone nonpublic networks. It also includes radio and RAN planning, core network design, roaming design, enhanced quality of service (QoS), artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) integration, and device management plans for enterprise and private wireless networks. Moreover, Srini has covered the coexistence and integration of private cellular networks with other wireless solutions such as cellular and Wi‐Fi networks. This is essential in providing high scalability to organizations to manage and make the best use of all three networks: public, Wi‐Fi, and nonpublic networks.

I am confident that all readers – network architects, RAN developers, network planners, spectrum engineers, IT professionals, and business leaders – will find the topics in this book insightful and useful. The book is a crucial source for understanding the strategic implications of deploying private networks on business and product development strategies.

Masoud Olfat, Vice President of Technology and Ecosystem Development, Federated Wireless Inc.

Chair, Network Services Task Group, and member of board of directors, OnGo Alliance

Chair, WinnForum CBRS and 6GHz Test and Certification WG

Foreword by Sree

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the need for robust, secure, and scalable communication networks is more critical than ever. Enterprise private cellular networks offer unparalleled opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage, allowing organizations to tailor connectivity solutions to meet their unique needs.

This book, MobileCommunication Systems for Private Networks, serves as a comprehensive guide for understanding, designing, and implementing private cellular networks within the enterprise context. It is intended for network architects, IT professionals, business leaders, and technology enthusiasts who seek to deepen their knowledge and stay ahead in this dynamic field.

Private cellular networks can profoundly impact various industries, from manufacturing and logistics to health care and smart cities. These networks enable new levels of operational efficiency, data security, and real‐time decision‐making capabilities. The convergence of 5G technology, the IoT, and edge computing is driving this transformation, creating a landscape where connectivity is not just a utility but a strategic asset.

A significant aspect of this evolving landscape is the coexistence and integration of private cellular networks with existing Wi‐Fi networks. While Wi‐Fi remains a dominant force in enterprise networking, private cellular networks offer complementary benefits such as enhanced security, broader coverage, and more reliable connectivity. Understanding how to strategically deploy and manage both Wi‐Fi and private cellular networks will be crucial for maximizing an organization's communication infrastructure.

The device baseband and telephony frameworks can significantly impact the adoption and uptake of private networks in both enterprise and consumer spaces. Special care must be taken to ensure that private networks are suitably discovered, onboarded, and given priority with respect to other radio access, depending on the use cases and user profiles. There is tremendous opportunity for innovation here and room to differentiate services as exposed to the end user.

The chapters that follow will delve into the architectural principles, technological components, and practical considerations necessary for building and managing private cellular networks. The book also explores topics such as spectrum management, network planning, security frameworks, performance optimization, coexistence strategies with Wi‐Fi networks, and the integration of AI/ML for enhanced QoS. Real‐world case studies and best practices mentioned illustrate the tangible benefits and challenges associated with deploying these networks in various scenarios.

In addition to the technical insights, this book addresses the strategic implications of adopting private cellular networks. It highlights the need for a forward‐thinking approach that aligns with an organization's broader digital strategy, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between IT and business units. The adoption of private cellular networks requires careful planning and investment to ensure that they complement existing technologies and deliver measurable business value. This strategic foresight is critical in driving digital transformation and maintaining a competitive edge.

As we stand at the forefront of this exciting technological development, it is crucial to stay informed and agile. This book is a testament to the expertise and experiences of the author, who has had a stellar career pursuing advancements in the field of wireless communications and networking. Srini's insights will undoubtedly provide valuable guidance to anyone seeking to harness the power of private cellular networks.

I invite you to immerse yourself in the rich content of this book, to explore the possibilities and challenges it presents, and to envision the future of connectivity in your organization.

Sree Vallath, Wireless Technologies, Apple Inc.

Foreword by Ariful

I became acquainted with Srinivasan Balasubramanian through his contributions to the Technical Work Groups within the OnGo Alliance, where we engaged in discussions and advocated for 4G/5G technologies that would power the next generation of public and private networks utilizing the CBRS spectrum. I have long admired the ideas he introduced to the industry, and I am genuinely pleased to learn that he has chosen to write this book to reach a broader audience.

There is no doubt that wireless communication is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the growing demand for high‐speed, reliable, and secure connectivity in diverse settings. This book, focusing on the deployment of private networks based on LTE and 5G NR technologies, offers a timely and comprehensive guide to this rapidly evolving field.

An important catalyst for private networks would be how regulatory bodies shape the national spectrum strategies to strike a balance between dedicated spectrum and localized and shared spectrum allocation. These strategies must be driven by the need to support diverse use cases and deployment scenarios for private networks while ensuring efficient spectrum utilization and minimizing interference between public and private networks. This book highlights CBRS as a prime example of shared spectrum, enabling dynamic allocation and operation for individual enterprises. It also discusses spectrum allocation in different countries, with many adopting localized allocation policies. It underscores the importance of the evolution of spectrum management for both private and public networks, including interference mitigation and fair sharing, especially with the increasing demand for reliable and high‐performance wireless connectivity in various industries.

As Srini points out, the successful implementation of private networks requires a deep understanding of the underlying technologies and their unique challenges. This book addresses this need by providing a clear and accessible overview of LTE and 5G NR, as well as the specific considerations for deploying these technologies in private network settings.

Whether you are a network engineer, IT professional, or business leader, this book will equip you with the knowledge and insights to navigate the complex landscape of private networks and harness their full potential. The author's insight, highlighting the critical decision points, makes this book an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to stay ahead of the curve in this exciting field.

Ariful Hannan, Solution Architect, Telecom Industry, Google Inc.

Preface

Looking back at my career working in the wireless field, the initial enterprise work environment I was in used tethered (ethernet) connectivity, switching to a hybrid mode and using wireless only when tethered connectivity was not available, and finally switching to operating with only wireless connectivity. Both the reliability and the ubiquitous availability of wireless connectivity have become basic necessities now. My initial foray into wireless was on 3GPP2, developing 1xRTT and High Rate Packet Data (HRDP) systems, and I still remember attending wireless conferences discussing contributions using printed copies, given the lack of connectivity while traveling to a site to meet.

Wireless voice solutions were the first to arrive and were mainly focused on cellular wide‐area coverage‐based support, creating the cellular industry. Voice service remained the main service that dominated the wireless industry even up to the third generation, even though data connectivity was introduced. The data connectivity through wireless was expensive to deploy, required high subscription costs, and was very restricted in its use. The barrier was broken with the 4G long‐term evolution (LTE) technology, where data connectivity became a more accessible commodity. While cellular technology was evolving for wide‐area coverage, the void of wireless connectivity for in‐building home and enterprise data connectivity was filled by Wi‐Fi. Given the low costs to both deploy and manage, Wi‐Fi became the go‐to choice for shorter‐range connectivity. This resulted in the enterprise connectivity solutions industry growing in parallel with the cellular industry.

The Wi‐Fi standards have made strides to meet enterprise demands. Since its introduction in 1997, the ongoing evolution of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 Wi‐Fi standards has led to much faster data transmission rates, longer ranges, and more reliable and secure connections. IEEE 802.11ax™, or Wi‐Fi 6, is the most recent standard in the IEEE 802.11 series, published in 2022. Wi‐Fi 6E is an extension of the Wi‐Fi 6 standard (which is based on the 802.11ax standard) that operates in the 6 GHz frequency band. It provides additional spectrum for Wi‐Fi devices, enabling higher data rates, lower latency, and less interference compared to operating in the crowded 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Wi‐Fi 7 is the next generation of wireless network technology that is being developed in the standards and brings with it some fundamental technical improvements over its predecessors.

One of the key aspects of Wi‐Fi was its reliance on the use of unlicensed spectrum. Wi‐Fi became and still is synonymous with “free,” at least from a user perspective. This is certainly true when compared to the costs for data connectivity on a cellular platform. 4G LTE, and now 5G NR, has provided definitions for the use of 3GPP technologies in an unlicensed spectrum. It relied on a licensed spectrum as an anchor, and the unlicensed spectrum was used to augment the capacity and is termed as licensed assisted access (LAA). Given that the base stations for both licensed and unlicensed services needed to be deployed in close proximity, this was more suitable for small cell solutions. The support of small cells in a licensed spectrum required sophisticated spectrum sharing between the macro and small cells, which made it difficult for market adoption.

All radio and telecommunications use waves of different frequencies (measured in Megahertz [MHz] and Gigahertz [GHz]) to carry data. These frequencies are grouped together to form bands, and multiple bands combine to form a spectrum of radio waves. Every successive generation of telecom has its fixed spectrum, and its bands are allocated to telecommunication companies for commercial use. Spectrum resource availability has become the biggest bottleneck, with wireless service providers paying huge sums of money to acquire spectrum resources and going through bidding wars involving large amounts of money. 3GPP‐defined 4G/5G systems offer higher reliability when compared to Wi‐Fi in terms of providing service guarantees and also deliver improved system capacity with the available spectrum. For this technology to be supported in an enterprise environment, a specific spectrum needs to be made available. Exclusive spectrum purchases by the smaller entities (both in geographic footprint and financial capacity) meant that an innovative approach was needed to address this demand. This naturally lent itself to the definition of shared spectrum use by these smaller entities.

In 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) developed a framework for the shared commercial use of the 3,550–3,700 MHz band (3.5 GHz band). The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) was established with a tiered access and authorization framework to accommodate shared federal and non‐federal use of the band. Wi‐Fi uses unlicensed spectrum within the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency ranges, while CBRS uses shared spectrum within the 3.55 GHz and 3.70 GHz range that is regulated by a central entity and referred to as lightly licensed. The CBRS spectrum is divided into three tiers, each requiring specific licenses with strict priority based on the users (base station deployments by an enterprise) belonging to a tier. The creation of this shared spectrum use has generated momentum for lower‐cost, smaller deployments using 4G LTE and 5G NR technologies on individual campuses, which can be deployed and managed similarly to Wi‐Fi networks. With the CBRS spectrum serving as an example, several countries have defined procedures for smaller entities to acquire spectrum for enterprise‐level operations, with more and more countries following suit. The amount of spectrum bandwidth allocated varies across different countries, but it is definitely a trend that is here to stay, providing smaller footprint spectrum usage that is readily available. Much of the focus is on optimally managing the spectrum to avoid interference between the deployed smaller networks and to enable fair sharing of the available spectrum. This aspect is actively evolving, with real‐time demand‐based spectrum management being envisioned.

As of the writing of this book, private network deployments are well underway, with implementations across several verticals, including educational institutions such as colleges and K‐12 schools, offices, hospitals, ports, manufacturing industries, big‐box retail, warehouses, mining, and many more. The use of 4G LTE/5G NR has enabled increased capacity, higher reliability, and fewer network nodes compared to Wi‐Fi, supporting enterprise functions. The 3GPP standards body envisioned a set of features to support private networks and introduced these in Release 16 (published in July 2020) and Release 17 (January 2022). Most, if not all, private networks deployed now use Release 15 (June 2018), which is the initial release where 5G NR support is defined. Given that the end‐user device availability was limited to Release 15 initially, and demand for private networks was growing, deployments needed to accommodate support for Release 15 devices. It turns out that many use cases can be addressed using Release 15. Advanced scenarios of macro network operators deploying smaller footprint networks and seamlessly transitioning across macro and small cell networks require the features introduced in Release 16 and beyond. Macro network operators are actively entering this space, given that users spend a lot of time indoors and there is a lack of good coverage provided by the macro network in buildings. Distributed antenna systems (DAS) exist but are very costly to deploy. However, where DAS solutions are deployed, they can be leveraged to support both licensed and shared spectrum.

The macro network operators are used to managing complex networks and actively tune the parameters to maximize the performance of the network, accommodating different user types. 4G LTE/5G NR systems are defined to accommodate complex scenarios and are inherently difficult to manage. Enterprise networks typically have Wi‐Fi support and are very simple to deploy and manage. Take a home setting where the public at large can go and buy an access point, plug it in, and get it functioning in a matter of minutes. Granted that enterprise environments are a lot more complex, ensuring that there are no hidden spots where coverage is needed, supporting the required load, and managing the security of the system while also overseeing the enterprise applications are challenging. Now, bringing in a complex system like 4G LTE/5G NR and deploying it in the same environment becomes a tall order. The enterprise folks are not going to budge from the fact that managing this 3GPP‐based network is much more complex than a Wi‐Fi system. In fact, even if it is as straightforward as a Wi‐Fi network, it still means the enterprise information technology (IT) has to manage yet another network and an additional screen to stare at. Both the deployment and the management of the 3GPP systems for enterprises need to be simplified enough not to scare away an enterprise entity from adopting it.

At this historic crossroad, it is strongly believed that a book on covering 4G/5G technology and its adoption into private networks will serve as an enlightening guideline to spur interest and enable increased adoption among different enterprises. Such a book will also attract a broad audience in both academia and industry, creating a great platform for both experimentation and exploration of newer use cases in the market. To ensure that enterprises of all sizes understand and consider support for 4G/5G private networks, this book tries to pull together the complex details of the LTE and NR systems and distill them into the key aspects that will both allow the reader to understand the broad concepts and also sufficiently appreciate the nuances involved while keeping the material as easy to read as possible. There are many books that go into great detail on the technology aspects, with individual books on finer topics. I have tried to bring all this together in a concise manner in this book and have hopefully found the right balance. This book, addressing private networks, may well be the first of its kind, and I hope it serves its intended purpose. This book is written in 28 chapters organized into three parts.

Part I Laying the foundation: This section of the book lays the foundation by providing the technological details of 3GPP 4G LTE and 5G NR systems. These are broader concepts that apply equally to a macro network as well as to a private network. The same technological concepts are applied to private networks, subjecting them to the constraints of a smaller network. Private networks also pose a different set of problems not directly experienced by macro networks, and techniques defined in these systems are leveraged to adequately address the required scenarios. The relevant knobs in these systems are captured, and the reader is requested to use that frame of mind when applying them to private networks.

LTE Fundamentals: